A computer-implemented method for managing a billing policy for mobile phone associated with a first phone number corresponding to a first account and a second phone number corresponding to a second account is described herein. The billing policy defines actions performed by the mobile phone to be charged to the first account, and defines actions performed by the mobile phone to be charged to the second account. Charges are allocated to one of the first account and second account based on the billing policy. A user can configured to phone to operate in a private mode, in response to which actions are charged to a default account of the two accounts, and information about the action is not provided to an external entity.
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: accessing, for a mobile phone associated with a first phone number and a second phone number, a billing policy associated with a first account associated with at least the first phone number and a second account associated with at least the second phone number, the billing policy defining a first set of actions that when performed by the mobile phone are charged to the first account and defining a second set of actions that when performed by the mobile phone are charged to the second account, at least one action in the second set of actions identifying a website such that data costs incurred by the mobile phone in association with the website are charged to the second account; identifying, by an intermediate server communicatively coupled to the mobile phone, an action performed by the mobile phone; in response to the identified action comprising an action defined by the billing policy to be charged to the first account, allocating, by the intermediate server, charges corresponding to the identified action to the first account; in response to the identified action comprising an action defined by the billing policy to be charged to the second account, allocating, by the intermediate server, charges corresponding to the identified action to the second account; and in response to the identified action comprising an action performed by the mobile phone not defined by the billing policy, allocating, by the intermediate server, charges corresponding to the identified action to the second account.
A system manages billing for a mobile phone with two phone numbers and accounts. An intermediate server accesses a billing policy that defines which mobile phone actions are charged to a first account (associated with the first phone number) and a second account (associated with the second phone number). For example, accessing a specific website charges data costs to the second account. When the server identifies a mobile phone action, it allocates the charges to the appropriate account based on the billing policy. If an action isn't defined in the policy, the charges are allocated to the second account by default.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first phone number comprises a phone number corresponding to hardware of the mobile phone.
The billing management system described previously uses the mobile phone's hardware phone number (the one associated with the SIM card) as the first phone number linked to the first account. Therefore, the first account and billing policy is associated with the physical device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second phone number comprises a virtual phone number assigned to the mobile phone by the intermediate server.
In the billing management system, the second phone number, which is associated with the second account, is a virtual phone number assigned to the mobile phone by the intermediate server. This allows for a secondary, software-defined number to be used for billing purposes.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the billing policy is defined by an employer of a user of the mobile phone, and wherein the first account belongs to the employer.
In the billing management system, the billing policy is defined by the mobile phone user's employer. The first account, which is associated with the first phone number and a set of actions, belongs to the employer, enabling the employer to manage and pay for certain mobile phone activities.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second account belongs to a user of the mobile phone.
In the billing management system, the second account, which is associated with the second phone number and a set of actions, belongs to the mobile phone user, enabling the user to manage and pay for their personal mobile phone activities.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a description of an identified action comprising an action performed by the mobile phone associated with the first phone number is provided to an entity associated with the first account.
In the billing management system, when an action is performed using the first phone number, a description of that action is sent to the entity associated with the first account (e.g., the employer). This allows the entity to track and monitor the mobile phone activity being charged to their account.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: receiving, from a user of the mobile phone, a request to configure the mobile phone to operate in a private mode; identifying, by the intermediate server, a second action performed by the mobile phone while the mobile phone is configured to operate in the private mode; and allocating, by the intermediate server, charges corresponding to the second action to the second account in response to the mobile phone being configured to operate in the private mode; wherein the second action is kept private from to the entity associated with the first account.
Building upon the prior billing management features, the system allows a user to activate a "private mode." While in private mode, any mobile phone actions are charged to the user's second account, and details of those actions are kept private from the entity associated with the first account (e.g., the employer). The intermediate server receives a request from the user to turn on private mode, identifies actions performed in private mode, and allocates charges to the second account, hiding the information from the first account holder.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, perform steps comprising: accessing, for a mobile phone associated with a first phone number and a second phone number, a billing policy associated with a first account associated with at least the first phone number and a second account associated with at least the second phone number, the billing policy defining a first set of actions that when performed by the mobile phone are charged to the first account and defining a second set of actions that when performed by the mobile phone are charged to the second account, at least one action in the second set of actions identifying a website such that data costs incurred by the mobile phone in association with the website are charged to the second account; identifying, by an intermediate server communicatively coupled to the mobile phone, an action performed by the mobile phone; in response to the identified action comprising an action defined by the billing policy to be charged to the first account, allocating, by the intermediate server, charges corresponding to the identified action to the first account; in response to the identified action comprising an action defined by the billing policy to be charged to the second account, allocating, by the intermediate server, charges corresponding to the identified action to the second account; and in response to the identified action comprising an action performed by the mobile phone not defined by the billing policy, allocating, by the intermediate server, charges corresponding to the identified action to the second account.
A computer-readable storage medium contains instructions to manage billing for a mobile phone with two phone numbers and accounts. When executed, the instructions cause a server to access a billing policy that defines which mobile phone actions are charged to a first account (associated with the first phone number) and a second account (associated with the second phone number). For example, accessing a specific website charges data costs to the second account. When the server identifies a mobile phone action, it allocates the charges to the appropriate account based on the billing policy. If an action isn't defined in the policy, the charges are allocated to the second account by default.
9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the first phone number comprises a phone number corresponding to hardware of the mobile phone.
The computer-readable storage medium described previously stores instructions to use the mobile phone's hardware phone number (the one associated with the SIM card) as the first phone number linked to the first account. Therefore, the first account and billing policy is associated with the physical device.
10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the second phone number comprises a virtual phone number assigned to the mobile phone by the intermediate server.
In the computer-readable storage medium, the instructions define the second phone number, which is associated with the second account, as a virtual phone number assigned to the mobile phone by the intermediate server. This allows for a secondary, software-defined number to be used for billing purposes.
11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the billing policy is defined by an employer of a user of the mobile phone, and wherein the first account belongs to the employer.
In the computer-readable storage medium, the instructions define the billing policy as being determined by the mobile phone user's employer. The first account, which is associated with the first phone number and a set of actions, belongs to the employer, enabling the employer to manage and pay for certain mobile phone activities.
12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the second account belongs to a user of the mobile phone.
In the computer-readable storage medium, the instructions define the second account, which is associated with the second phone number and a set of actions, as belonging to the mobile phone user, enabling the user to manage and pay for their personal mobile phone activities.
13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein a description of an identified action comprising an action performed by the mobile phone associated with the first phone number is provided to an entity associated with the first account.
This invention describes a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for managing billing on a mobile phone configured with a "first" phone number and a "second" phone number, each linked to a distinct billing account (a "first account" and a "second account"). An intermediate server accesses a billing policy that defines which phone actions are charged to the first account and which are charged to the second account. For instance, specific website data costs can be allocated to the second account. The server monitors phone usage, identifies actions performed, and allocates charges accordingly. Actions not explicitly defined by the policy are charged to the second account. Additionally, a description of actions performed by the mobile phone that are associated with the first phone number is provided to the entity or owner linked to the first account. ERROR (embedding): Error: Failed to save embedding: Could not find the 'embedding' column of 'patent_claims' in the schema cache
14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , comprising instructions that, when executed by the hardware processor, perform further steps comprising: receiving, from a user of the mobile phone, a request to configure the mobile phone to operate in a private mode; identifying, by the intermediate server, a second action performed by the mobile phone while the mobile phone is configured to operate in the private mode; and allocating, by the intermediate server, charges corresponding to the second action to the second account in response to the mobile phone being configured to operate in the private mode; wherein the second action is kept private from the entity associated with the first account.
Building upon the prior computer-readable storage medium description, the instructions, when executed, allow a user to activate a "private mode." While in private mode, any mobile phone actions are charged to the user's second account, and details of those actions are kept private from the entity associated with the first account (e.g., the employer). The server receives a request from the user to turn on private mode, identifies actions performed in private mode, and allocates charges to the second account, hiding the information from the first account holder.
15. A system, comprising: an intermediate server communicatively coupled to a mobile phone associated with a first phone number and a second phone number, the intermediate server comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions and one or more hardware processors configured to execute the instructions to perform steps comprising: accessing, for the mobile phone, a billing policy associated with a first account associated with at least the first phone number and a second account associated with at least the second phone number, the billing policy defining a first set of actions that when performed by the mobile phone are charged to the first account and defining a second set of actions that when performed by the mobile phone are charged to the second account, at least one action in the second set of actions identifying a website such that data costs incurred by the mobile phone in association with the website are charged to the second account; identifying an action performed by the mobile phone; in response to the identified action comprising an action defined by the billing policy to be charged to the first account, allocating charges corresponding to the identified action to the first account; in response to the identified action comprising an action defined by the billing policy to be charged to the second account, allocating charges corresponding to the identified action to the second account; and in response to the identified action comprising an action performed by the mobile phone not defined by the billing policy, allocating charges corresponding to the identified action to the second account.
A billing management system includes an intermediate server that communicates with a mobile phone that has two phone numbers and accounts. The server accesses a billing policy that dictates which mobile phone actions are charged to the first account (linked to the first phone number) and which are charged to the second account (linked to the second phone number). For instance, data costs from visiting a specific website are charged to the second account. When the server detects an action on the mobile phone, it allocates the associated charges to the correct account based on the billing policy. Any action not covered by the billing policy will have its charges applied to the second account by default.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first phone number comprises a phone number corresponding to hardware of the mobile phone.
The billing management system uses the mobile phone's hardware phone number (the one linked to the SIM card) as the first phone number tied to the first account. Therefore, the first account and billing policy is associated with the physical device in this system.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second phone number comprises a virtual phone number assigned to the mobile phone by the intermediate server.
In the billing management system, the second phone number, linked to the second account, is a virtual phone number assigned to the mobile phone by the intermediate server. This facilitates a secondary, software-defined number for billing purposes.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the billing policy is defined by an employer of a user of the mobile phone, and wherein the first account belongs to the employer.
In the billing management system, the billing policy is defined by the employer of the mobile phone user. The first account, connected to the first phone number and a set of actions, belongs to the employer, which allows the employer to control and pay for designated mobile phone operations.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second account belongs to a user of the mobile phone.
In the billing management system, the second account, tied to the second phone number and a set of actions, is owned by the mobile phone user, allowing them to control and pay for their personal mobile phone usage.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein a description of an identified action comprising an action performed by the mobile phone associated with the first phone number is provided to an entity associated with the first account.
The billing management system sends a description of actions performed using the first phone number to the entity that manages the first account (such as the employer). This allows the entity to track and monitor the mobile phone activities that are being charged to their account.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the one or more hardware processors are configured to execute the instructions to perform further steps comprising: receiving, from a user of the mobile phone, a request to configure the mobile phone to operate in a private mode; identifying a second action performed by the mobile phone while the mobile phone is configured to operate in the private mode; and allocating charges corresponding to the second action to the second account in response to the mobile phone being configured to operate in the private mode; wherein the second action is kept private from the entity associated with the first account.
Expanding on the billing management system, the system enables a user to activate a "private mode." When private mode is active, all mobile phone actions are charged to the user's second account, and details of those actions remain hidden from the entity associated with the first account (such as the employer). The server receives a request from the user to enable private mode, identifies actions performed during private mode, and allocates charges to the second account, thereby keeping the information private from the first account holder.
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August 14, 2015
May 23, 2017
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